3C
SPORTSm^e Caaclom $e«t
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Bobcats continue to improve
STING OPENS TRAINING CAMP
Continued from page 1C
better.
‘Ifs just a credit to our
work ethic, that is the staple
of this organization,” Knight
said. “Well come in here next
year with a lot more confi
dence that we can win
games.”
For Felton, who came fixim
the 2004 national college
champion North Carolina, he
is happy with what the
Bobcats accomplished, but
ias hungry for more.
“I felt good about the sea
son (but) then I feel bad on
the downside because we
didn’t make the playoffs,”
Felton said. ‘We’re finishing
strong and well come back
into camp next year with a
positive attitude. We’ll get
everybody healthy and well
be all right.
We’re going to approach
next season the way we
ended this one, we’re going to
scrap, play hard, and get it
done. We’re going to make it
happen, no matter who we
play”
When thinking of retooling
the nucleus. Bobcats
President Ed Tapscott want
ed to reflect on the merits of
this season before tinkering
with the roster for next year.
“It’s always good to end on
a positive note, and these
guys have been terrific,”
Tapscott said. “But in the off
season, the first thing you do
is review the year and dis
cuss (what happened).It is
way too soon now, we have to
go through our due dili
gence.”
NBA’s real top 10 players
Continued from page 1C
is the game’s best all-aroimd player. He has
single-handedly driven a mediocre Laker
team into the playoffs and more importantly,
established himself as a leader at both ends of
the floor and one who should be even better
next season if L.A management gets, him
some legitimate help. Love him or loathe him,
Bryant has not only, rebounded fix>m his off-
court personal woes, but improved his game,
dedication and even his reputation.
3. Steve Nash
There is not a player in the game who
makes more of an impact on all of his team
mates than Nash. I believe is ability to elevate
his teammates respective games, makes him
the league’s Most Valuable Player. TOth the
season-long loss of Amare Stoudemire, Nash
has elevated his scoring to a career hi^ this
season while continuing to lead the league in
assists. The thing I’m most impressed about
is that it doesn’t matter who is on the court
with Nash. He plays the same way all the
time and makes whomever he’s playing with
reach their fuQ potential whether they want
to or not. Just look at Tim Thomas. Enough
said.
4. LeBron James
After the season James has had, I almost
feel embarrassed calling Bryant the best all-
around pla}^ in the game. James has had a
season for the ages and will one day be hold
the title of the best player in the game. James
has dispelled the notion that he fades away
down the stretch and has been the driving
force behind the Cleveland Cavaliers renais
sance. This season James will accomplish a
feat that only three other players in league
history have completed. By averaging 30
point six rebounds and six assists, James
joins the elite company of Michael Jordan,
Oscar Robertson and Jerry West. Need I say
more?
5. Kevin Garnett
KG is stUl putting up eye-popping numbers
(21.8pomts, 12.7 rebounds and4.1 assists)for
a team that is absolutely atrocious. I know a
lot of people are really enamored with the
ability of Dirk Nowitzki to go out to the three
point line and drain jumpers like they’re lay
ups, but for me, if I had to choose one player
to match up against Tim Duncan, I would
choose Garnett. His rebounding ability is
unmatched at this point and he would proba
bly be averaging more points if he had any
consistent offensive help to help shed the con
stant double and triple teams he’s faced all
season long. His professionalism with the T-
Wolves has been nothing short of incredible.
No ifiatter who his teammates are, KG comes
to play every night.
6. Dirk Nowitzki
Nowitzki is obviously, supremely talented.
There has never been a man of his size who
can do the things that he does. He really is a
modem day Larry Bird - without the killer
instinct that is. Until he develops that
instinct, which helped carry a lot less talent
ed Bird, to three championships - and the
HaU of Fame - Nowitzki wiU continue to be a
bridesmaid to Duncan’s bride. Unlike Bird,
who was a better passer and rebounder,
Nowitzki only affects games with his scoring.
If he ever develops a nasty streak, it could be
li^ts out for a lot of western conference oppo
nents, including the Spurs.
T.Dwyane Wade
Not only is Wade one of the most athletic
players in the league, be he is also a very
intelligent player who generally lets the game
come to him. Don’t get me wrong, he can def
initely take over when needed, but his court
sense and basketball intellect may be
unmatched by any young player in the
league. I expect Wade to move up on this list,
possibly to a top-three spot in the next couple
of years. He’s that good.
8. Paul Pierce
Pierce, who has alwaj^ been an extremely
talented player, has raised his game - and his
leadership abilities - to another level - one
that should have Boston GM Danny Ainge
seriously thinking about getting him some
veteran help. Rerce is the only player in the
league to lead his team in points (a career-
high 26.8), rebounds (6.7), assists (4.8) and
steals (1.4). If this season is any indication of
what lies ahead for Rerce in the next few sea
sons th^ he will get some serious considera
tion for the league’s MVP title, especially if
the Celtics ever start winning some games
again.
9. Elton Brand
Simply put. Brand is a monster who has
always be^ a 20 and 10 guy since he entered
the league. However, with a new and
improved Clippers team,- Brand has elevated
his game this season to even greater heights.
His career-best 24.8 points per game to go
along with 10.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks
would probably be enough to win the league’s
MVP award in any other season besides this
one. Nevertheless, Brand looks Mke he will be
a MVP contender for a long time and with a
littie more help, who knows, maybe the
Clippers themselves can become legitimate
championship contends themselves.
10. ShaquiUe O’Neal
I’ve never been a Shaquille O’Neal fan, espe
cially after seeing the way he was used and
abused early in his career by Hakeem
Olajuwon. I alwayssaythatifShaqweren’t7-
1 and 300 pounds, he would be an ordinary
low post player. However, he is 7-1 and 300
and even with his rapidly declining .skills, his
presence alone is enough to turn any pre
tender into a legitimate championship con-
tender.
So there you have it - the real ten best play-
^ in the NBA. Feedback and comments, as
usual, are always appreciated.
Eric Williams has been a sports columnist for the
Philadelphia Sunday Sun for seven years.
Lincoln (Pa.) wants to re-join CIAA
Continued from page 1C
Lincoln conducted a stu
dent survey in 2004 that
showed 83 percent were will
ing to pay an athletic fee to
help offset the cost of moving
up to Division II. Ninety-six
percent of students surveyed
wanted the school to add foot
ball and a marching band as
well as join the CIAA.
“The university has an hon
ored tradition on providing
opportunities for students,”
Nelson said. “We belie-ve the
marching band wiL provide
music opportunities for' our
young men and women, and
that our football program will
atrtract young men who want
to be successful in the class
room as well as on the field of
athletic competition.”
The CIAA -will have 10
members after N.C. Central
leaves next j-ear. Wfinston-
Salem State wiU leave at the
end of this academic year to
move to Division I. lincoln,
which has an enrollment of
2,278 undergratuate and
graduate students, competes
as an independent, but is a
member of the Eastern
CoUege Athletic Conference.
The school first fielded a-
footbaU team in 1894, two
years after CIAA members
Johnson C. Smith and
Livingstone played the first
game between historicaUy
black coUeges.
CIAA Commissioner Leon
Kerry has said the league wiU
aggressively pursue new
members, but didn’t confirm
a time fi-ame or list of possible
candidates. Speculation has
focused on Benedict (S.C.),
which is a member of the
Southern IntercoUegiate
Athletic Confeence. Another
possibUityis UNC-Pembroke,
which win launch a footbaU
program in 2007.
But Lincoln has already
made its interest clear in join
ing.
‘A more varied campus life
experience contributes signif
icantly to the number of
prospective appUcants and
the active engagement of con
tinuing students,” Nelson
said. “School and campus
pride is significantly
enhanced by athletic partic-
pation with schools of similar
size and composition.”
Softball MVP
Johnson C. Smitii third baseman Brandi
Young was named CIAA softball player of
the year. Young, a senior from Columbia,
S.C., ranked in file top 10 in 13 offensive
categories. Second baseman Nikia
Beacham of Rock Hill joined Young on the
all-conference team. The Golden Bulls
went 30-15 this season.
PHOTO/CUFtTIS WILSON
Charlotte Sting coaches Shelley Patterson, Muggsy Bogues and Earl Cureton share a laugh
during a photo session as part of the WNBA team’s media day Tuesday. The Sting, which
finished a league and franchise-worst 6-28, open the season May 20 against expansion
Chicago. Charlotte returns Allison Feaster, who missed most of 2005 to pregnancy and add
first-round pick Monique Curry from Duke.
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